JXN // style Imani Khayyam
The Hinds Community College fashion merchandising technology program, which began around 2009, has about 40 students, some of whom are pictured.
Fashion Forward at Hinds // by Danie Matthews
T
12
that it has no prerequisites, and students can start in any semester. They receive hands-on experience and get the opportunity to delve into fashion merchandising with courses such as Principles of Design, Fashion Show Production, Fundamentals of Textiles and Visual Merchandising, which Eastland-Foreman says is an important area to retailers because it draws Imani Khayyam
he Hinds Community College fashion merchandising technology program is helping train the state’s next generation of fashion executives. The program, with Jane Eastland-Foreman as the district chair and online curriculum coordinator, is one of the college’s best-kept secrets. Hinds hired Eastland-Foreman as an adjunct instructor for the marketing management technology and business office technology in 1994. In 2014, she began chairing the fashion marketing program, though she had been online curriculum coordinator for several years before that. “A few years ago, we had a lot of inquiries from companies approaching us saying they needed qualified people in Mississippi who knew more about fashion than just sales,” Eastland-Foreman says. She believes the fashion industry is a good field to pursue because it has hundreds of jobs available in Mississippi, which opens up many avenues for the students. And fashion is a part of everyone’s life, she says. Hinds is the only community college in Mississippi that offers the program. It has an estimated total of 40 students currently enrolled. Eastland-Foreman says the class scheduling is flexible, with on-campus and online coursework on the Raymond and Rankin campuses. It’s an upside-down curriculum, which means
Students in Hinds Community College’s fashion merchandising technology program learn about topics such as color and design.
Summer 2016 // The City’s Business and Lifestyle Magazine
customers into stores. In the courses, students’ learn information such as how to recognize the best outfit for certain body types, how to accessorize, and what elements of color and design are most appealing to certain audiences. The students participate in several activities a year, including assisting in the production of four different fashion shows: the Pearl Chamber of Commerce’s Girls’ Night Out around August or September, the City of Brandon’s Brandon Market in October and the campuses’ fashion shows. The show on the Rankin campus is in January, and Raymond’s show is in April. Individuals interested in the program who hold a previous degree are not required to retake classes, though Eastland-Foreman says it depends on the course and college. Program coordinators are currently considering rewriting the curriculum, which would then offer students sewing and construction classes. Former program student, Gabrielle Woodard, who is currently an adjunct instructor in the program, believes the Hinds fashion merchandising program prepared her for her current job in the fashion industry. “There are a lot of jobs in this field, “she says. “Being a student and now being a teacher helped build my confidence, and it’s like training wheels into the industry.” For more information, visit hindscc.edu. boomjackson.com